Match against Verdy, who we cannot afford to lose to.

1st final match against Verdy Kawasaki, which will move its home to Tokyo from next season.

For this prestigious club, while having respect, as the first J-Club in Tokyo, we cannot afford to lose. It will be our first official match against them, but it will be a battle where we want to show our determination.

Supporters gathered in the second floor behind the goal at Todoroki Stadium, overwhelming Verdy even before the start of the game. The players must have felt that passion as well.

Unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities, we are scored on in one chance.

In strong winds, both teams cautiously move forward, carefully searching for each other. Verdy's strategy is to not raise their defensive line recklessly, with CB Nakazawa and Yoneyama at the center, while MF Hayashi and Yamada's double pivot securely covers the space, utilizing FW Kim's technique and strength, and Iio's speed.

However, in the 9th minute, Iio, who received a through pass from Kin, was tackled by Komine in the penalty area with a slight delay in response. This play resulted in a foul and a penalty kick was given. Hayashi calmly scored it, giving Verdy the lead. Tokyo was put in a disadvantageous position from the start.

However, Tokyo counterattacks. In the 11th minute, Fujiyama, who had advanced forward, dribbled and shot into the middle. In the 12th minute, TUTO and Kobayashi worked together with Naito, causing trouble for the Verdy DF. In the 17th minute, Yukihiko, who received a pass from Amaral, broke through the back of the right side and crossed it back to TUTO for a shot. Although it hit the GK head on, in the next 18 minutes, Tokyo continued to attack with a shot from Kobayashi, this time from the left side of Fujiyama. In the 26th minute, Yukihiko, who had been filling in front of the goal, headed in a cross from Naito on the right side! It was a decisive moment, but it was not a goal due to a fine save by GK Honami.

Roaring with a super play!

Verdy, who defended by pulling back against Tokyo's fierce attack and did not allow them to break through the goal by risking their bodies in the final stage. In the midfield, they were allowed some freedom, but they couldn't use the space in front of the goal and couldn't launch their usual quick attacks. In the 29th minute, Kina was substituted for Koike. Tokyo, who tried to dominate the midfield by making an early substitution. In the 33rd minute, TUTO, who received a pass from Kobayashi after a quick transition from defense, won a duel against Nakazawa and took a shot, but it went just above the crossbar. In the 37th minute, Kobayashi took a middle shot from a direct pass from Yukihiko, Amaral, and TUTO. Immediately after, in the 38th minute, Amaral broke through on a counter and faced the GK in a one-on-one situation, but Honami saved it with his right foot! They have found their rhythm, but they couldn't score a decisive chance and ended the first half.

In the second half, Verdy substituted Sanjo for Hirochou and moved Ishizuka from the left side to the center, while also moving Yamada from defensive midfielder to the right, creating a diamond-shaped midfield formation.

However, Tokyo's attack continued to dominate the ball in the second half. In the 56th minute, Julian dribbled through the left side after a pass exchange with Fujiyama and crossed the ball. TUTO, who was left free in front of the goal, took a decisive shot but it was saved by the GK. In the 62nd minute, Amaral was fouled just outside the penalty area and Yukihiro took a direct free kick, but it was saved by Terry with one hand! Shortly after, TUTO's header from a corner kick was once again saved by Terry's left hand...

In the 63rd minute, Amaral made a run from the left side and jumped into the cross from Yukihiro, who was finally able to create space compared to the first half, but narrowly missed. In the 69th minute, Tokyo tried to break the situation by replacing Yukihiro, who had played the full game so far, with Toda, but...

Kim's blow dampens the counterattack mood

Despite attacking, they were unable to score a goal, reminiscent of the late defeat in J2 last year. However, this is J1, where they won't end with just one goal against.

73 minutes, Verdy DF Nishida who took the loose ball passed it to the midfield, and Yamada headed the ball back, and Kim shot it without hesitation from outside the penalty area. The shot from Kim, who was free without being closed down by Tokyo DF, drew a beautiful trajectory and was sucked into the goal net.

Tokyo, who had been taken advantage of, was immediately discouraged. In the 78th minute, they couldn't catch Yamada who had advanced to the front line, and allowed another goal with a free header by Kim from the cross, resulting in their third goal. In the 80th minute, they substituted Kaginuki for Kobayashi, but their play was inconsistent both offensively and defensively, resulting in their first shutout loss of the season and finishing the 1st stage in 6th place.

Today's match can be seen as just one of the 15 matches, and it can also be said to be a match that shows the challenges and leads to the next one. However, despite fighting hard until now, there is a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction following the Kobe match in the previous round, and it ended in a disappointing way. I want to switch my mindset and face the 2nd stage.

"Coach Zhang's comment"

"We were able to finish the final home game with a victory. I think it was a good game that led to the 2nd stage. (In response to questions about instructions given during the game, such as effective side changes) Once we enter the actual game, it is up to the players' own judgment. We are fostering individual decision-making skills. This is the way of our team that we always emphasize."

"Coach Ooguma's comment"

"It was a game that exposed the lack of decisiveness, the lack of functionality of the two top players, and the lack of midfield composition when the opponent pulled back. It is a challenge that has been there since before this stage began, and it is still unresolved. Before fighting in J1, there was also the aspect of not knowing until you try, but through 15 games, both as individual players and as a team, we were able to grasp both the good and bad aspects. Our goal for the 2nd stage is to continue playing good games with concentration, so that we don't have a game like today. We want to make adjustments to regain our confidence once again."